Formal Tea

The next big dressing occassion was formal tea. I wore an old (but still beloved) project - my lavender and white striped trained skirt. Then I made a brand new hat to go with it, covered in rose velvet with a giant blue shot pink silk bow on top. Unfortunately, I failed to pack the intended blouse, but I made due with what I had. I lent Julia my even more fabulous black and white trained skirt. They are made from the same pattern, but I installed an enormous thick and wide black ruffle in that one, which really makes the train look fabulous. I think I either need to do the same for the lavender and white skirt, or maybe I can get away with making a really fantastic petticoat. Either way, I better get on that. I also made Julia wear a fabulous three plumed hat I made, even though it freaked her out when the wind kept blowing them. Mother wore a lovely linen skirt with pretty flanges (they look really good in motion), and I trimmed a hat for her at the last minute with pretty yellow striped silk and a plume of ostrich feathers I dyed orange.

Fabulous skirts

And more!

Matching skirts, but hers looks better

Nice hat, Mother

This landscaped pond is easily the prettiest thing on campus

I couldn't pick a favorite

Protect the hat!

Pretty pretty

Nice hat on Adrian, too.

Walking home, looking silly...

Seaside Tea Dance at the Rotunda

I should have posted this back when I was doing all the Newport stuff, but I misplaced the pictures. Here they are! This was another afternoon event at the Newport Vintage Dance Week, and it was quite lovely. The Rotunda ballroom had beautiful views of the sea, we danced, and then we rode on the carousel and danced some more!

New Plaid Silk Hugenot Skirt and Temporary Hat

Plans just didn't work out today. First, we were going to go to a birthday party picnic for a friend in Boston. A medical situation canceled the picnic. Then we thought we would go to a different event, but it started raining. Not wanting to ruin the lovely new skirt I had just finished, I didn't want to wear it out in the rain, so we canceled those plans too. Bummer.

On the other hand, I had a delightfully productive morning because of these potential plans. I finished this new plaid Hugenot skirt. I started it on Wednesday, finished cutting pieces on Thursday, completely assembled it Friday, and then woke up to throw together a hat to match! Remember how into Tissot and the Tissot-bow-hat I am. Well, this is made from scraps, and I intend to re-do it later and do it more justice. But for 20 minutes work, not bad at all.I also, this morning, put most of the eyelets (I couldn't find enough! Boo hoo!) into this gorgeous blue plaid silk Edwardian corset I made. It's been sitting around, finished except for eyelets, beautiful but totally unwearable, for ages. Now it can be worn, and I am inspired to add the last four eyelets soon! So please enjoy the pretty pictures and forgive the slight weirdness of the lacing... I just adore the shape of this corset. The pretty swoops over the hips are so pretty. It is a Past Patterns pattern... check out that company for some lovely things.